Apparatus for cleaning boiler-tubes.



NOV. 878,583. PATENTED FEB. 11,, 1908. H. P. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.31.1903

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

t g. A A A A N A auvenroz jizryj'flz'nhud, fivil'nemem g M A W Z g n v cel 7 y N Q attorney PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

H. F. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OQT. 31,1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 878,583. 'PAT'ENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

- H. F. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR GLEANING BOILER TUBES.

nrmoumn FILED OCT. 31 1903.

s sums-4mm a.

18 Flame/urea j'nry Z. hl'izlaud,

an onic,

No. 878,583. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908. H. F. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 31. 1903.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

III/I No. 878,583. PATENTED FEB.11, 1908. H. F. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED 0G1. 31,1903

. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No. 878,588. PATENTED FEB.11, 1908. A

' H. P. WEINLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OGT. 31.1903.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. WEINLAND, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAGONDA MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BOILER-TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed October 31. 1903- Serial No. 179.273.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, and more particularly to the mechanism whereby rotary motion at a hlgh rate of speed is imparted to the cleaner head or cleanlng tool proper, and whereby the said head or tool is fed to its work.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus in which'the motor may be an external motor, located outside of the tube to be cleaned, and therefore of sufficient size to give ample power and speed, while the cleaner head or cleaning tool proper is positively and rigidly connected with the motor when at Work, so that the movements of said cleanerhead may be readily and accurately controlled. 1 p

To these and other ends, my invention consists in certain novel features which I will now roceed to describe, and will then particular y point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustratlng the application of my improved aparatus to a well known type of boiler Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal sectional view of'the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the motor, in the same lane of section as Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectiona view of the motor, taken on the line as a; of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the shaft and its supporting bearings; Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on theline g g of Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken on the line z zgof Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of one end of the motor wheel shaft; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a modification.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a boiler, and ,2 the tubes thereof, which are to be cleaned. These tubes are straight and parallel, as shown in the drawing. The motor as a whole is indicated b the reference numeral 3, and is preferably a rotary fluid pressure motor of the water wheel class, the

form shown being What is known as a Pelton wheel. It comprises a casing 4, one side of which, 5, is removable, being held in place by screws 6. This casing is provided near its lower portion with an inlet nozzle 7, to which is connected a hose or flexible pipe 8, by means of which Water under pressure is supplied to the motor. At the bottom of the casing, immediately below the wheel and in front of and below the nozzle 7, is the waste outlet 9, to which a hose 10 may be connected for the purpose of conducting the waste water to any suitable point of discharge.

The wheel proper consists of a hub 11, arms 12 and a rim 13, this latter provided with buckets 14, of the well known Pelton type. This wheel is secured on a shaft '15, WhlCh rotates in bearings 16 in the casing 4; The shaft 15 projects beyond the casing atone end, as indicated at 17, and this projecting end is square in cross section, as shown in Fig. 8. The shaft 15 is provided with an opening or passage 18, extending through it from end to end. This passage 18, at the inclosed end of the shaft, registers with an opening 19 in the hearing at that end of the shaft, said opening being connected by a pipe 20 with the nozzle 7, sothat a portion 0 t e water supply is diverted from the nozzle through the pi e 20, and through the passage 18 in the s aft 15.

The cleaner head or cleaning tool roper is indicated by the referencenumera 21, and may be of any suitable construction. It is connected with the motor, so as to rotate and be fed forward in unison therewith, by means ofa rigid shaft, indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 22. This shaft is a hollow, extensible or telescopic shaft, built up of sections adapted to shde the one within the other, so that the shaft may be lengthened or shortened as desired. In the particular formof construction shown in Figs. 5

to 7 inclusive, said shaft is composed of three sections, indicated respectively bythe reference numerals 23, 24 and 25. Each of these sections is hollow and square in cross section, both internall and externally, the section 24 fitting within the section 23, and the section25 fitting within the section 24. The outer end of the section 23 fits over the squared end 17 of the motor wheel shaft 15,

being secured thereon in any suitable manner. At the other end of the shaft 22, the outer end of the section 25 thereof is conis coiled around the stem 36, and v:one end against the pin 35, its other end nected to the cleaner head 21, so as to cause said head to rotate and move longitudinally with said shaft section, this connection being effected in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of a socket 26 on .the shank of the cleaner head, in which socket the end ofthe shaft section is secured by any suitable fastening device.

On the end of the section 23 farthest from the motor there is secured a collar 27, which forms .part of a supporting bearing for the shaft within the tube, and also constitutes a convenient means for supporting the locking pin which serves to connect the sections 24 and 25. named of these twofunctions, said collar 27 is provided with a circumferential groove 28, formed between an integral shoulder or enlargement 29, and a removable shoulder or enlargement 30. This latter may be in the form of a separate ring, secured in-position, after the parts are assembled, in any suitable manner. In the groove 28 there fits, between the shoulders 29 and 30, an anti,- friction ring or annulus'31, of an external diameter corresponding with. the internal diameter of the tubes to be cleaned, said ring forming a bearing in which the collar 27 may freely rotate. Said ring is also preferably provided with a plurality1 of apertures 32, extending through it in-t e length of the tube to be cleaned, and constitutmg passages through which the water employed in the cleaning operation may freely pass. In connection wlththe second function of the collar 27, said collar is provided with a radial aperture 33, which registers with a similar aperture 34 in the section 23. A locking pin 35 is fitted to slide in said aperture, and is provided with ,a' stem 36, passing through an aperture in a collar 37, which fits the outer end of the aperture 33, said stem being provided on its projecting outer end with an operating head 38, which may be readily grasped to operate the lock.- ing in. The-collar 37 is removably secured in t e position shown, and the stem 36 slides therein, the s ring 39 acting to force the locking pin ra rally inward, and the inward movement being limited by the contact of.

the head 38 with the collar 37. A s ring 39 ears at bearing against the collar 37, said spring acting to force the locking pin inward. v The shaft section 24 is provided near one end with an aperture 40, and near its other end I with an aperture 41, said apertures being adapted to receive the locking in 35 when hen the pin Fig.- 5, the shaft sectlon 24 is pushed within the shaft section 23. When said shaft sec.- tion24 is drawn out or'extended, the locking pin engages the aperture 41.

In connection with the first direction of the is engaged with the aperture 40, as shown in The shaft section 24 is provided, at that end thereof farthest from the motor, with a collar 42 secured thereon, said collar corresponding with the collar 27, and having a circumferential groove 43 to receive an anti-v friction ring 44, which fits the tube to be cleaned, and furnishes a bearing for the collar 42 and shaft section 24. The ring 44 is provided with longitudinal water passages 45, corresponding with the water passages 32 of the ring 31. Said collar 42 also carries a spring lockin pin 46, similar to the locking pin 35, and a a-pted to engage with either oneof two apertures 47' and 48 near the two ends of the shaft section 25. By this means said shaft section 25 may be locked in position either when it is retracted within the section 24 or when it is extended from said section.

It will thus be seen that the shaft 22 is ex tensible, its structure being such that its length may be increased to correspondingly 'vary the distance between the cleaning tool and the motor, and thereby increases thev range of work of the apparatus by enabling it to operate on long tubes. It will be noticed, however, that when the device is in operation, the distance between the cleaning tool and motor is fixed and the two move in unison during the feeding movements of the apparatus. It will further be noted .that the caring rings 31 and 44'not only serve to form bearin supports for the shaft 22 within the tube, ut also form gages to determine whether the cleaning tool has properly removed the incrustations,' since these rings conform to the interior diameter of the tube,

and prevent the apparatus as a whole from advancing through the tube until the incrustation has been entirely removed in advance ofthem by the cleaning tool.

I also provide means for supporting the motor and the projecting portion of the shaft 22, so as to relieve the operator of the task of holding said parts in place against the downward action of gravity. In this connection it should be noted that the motor casing is provided .with horizontally extending handles 49, by means of which it is held by the operator when .in use. The motor, although of relatively large SlZ6,' SO as to produce ample power and speed, is nevertheless portable, in the sense of being readily movable toward and from the work. In order to support the motor in the respects just referred to, I may employ a counterweight 50, connected with the motor casing by means of a rope or other flexible connectionv 51, passing over guide pulleys 52, supported from the roof of the boiler house, or any other point of support, in any approved manner. This constitutes an extendible supporting device the extendibility being vertical, lateral and longitudinal and back in feeding the cleaner to the work and withdrawing it therefrom. I may also employ forthis purpose rods 53, which are inserted in the boiler tubes on each side. of the tube operated upon, their ends projecting from the boiler front so as to permit the handles 49 to rest thereon, as shown in. Fig. 1. Theserods serve not only to support the motor, but also to. guide it when moved forward or backward, so that its movement will be in alinement with the tube in which work is being done. Either one of these supporting devices, to-wit, the counterweight 50 or the rods-53, may be dispensed with.

Inoperation, the shaft 22 is shortened to its minimum extent, and the cleaning tool is then introduced into the tube to be cleaned,

the motor being supported in proper position to permit this by t e supporting devices and by the operator. The water under pressure then iin arts a rapid rotary motion to the water wheel, which motion is communicated directly to the cleaning tool, and as this latter cuts the scale or incrus'tation away, the entire apparatus, comprising the motor, the cleaning. tool, and the connecting shaft, is

. advanced by the operator pressing forward on the handles 49. As the cleaner gradually cuts its way into the tube, the motor ad- .vances along with it, and during this opera-.

tion a ortion of the water supply is diverted throug the pipe 20, and passes do wn through the hollow motor shaft 15 and hollow connecting shaft 22 to the cleaner, which is thus sup lied withwater, which serves to aid its wor and wash away the accumulations of loosened scale. Where the boiler tubes are inclined downward from their front ends, as

motor aids in feeding forward the tool and materially lessens the labor required of the operator.-

In the practical operation of the tool, it

is frequently necessary or desirable to cause the tool to travel back and *forth longitudinally of the tube soas to repeatedly operate upon the particular section of the tube being cleaned, to insure a complete cleaning of its surface before adyancing thetool to attack the unclean portion lying in advance of the same. This is accomplished by repeatedly drawing back and advancing the tool over a comparatively short space, and it will be seen that the motor, tool and shaft are-so connected and supported that this can be readily accomplished by the operator, since the arts are so supported as to be free to be rea ily moved by and backwardand forward in the direction of the length of the tube.

When the motor has worked forward to a oint near the boiler front, the fluid pressure 1s turned offend the apparatus is moved outward until access can be had to the locking sufliciently to re ease the ocking pin 46 and extend the shaft section 25. 1n this Way, boiler tubesofunusual lengthmay be readily cleaned throughout their entire extent, and it is of course obvious that a greater number of sections than three maybe employed to constitute the shaft 22. i

In practice, I have'found that, in the majority of cases, two sections of the connecting shaft are sufiicient, and in Fig. 9 I have shown such a construction, the shaftbeing com-' posed of two sections only, 54 and 55. this construction, the outermost section, 54, is provided'at the end farthest from the motor with a collar 56, bearing ring 57 and lockin pin 58, similar to those already described. It. is further provided',"at the end nearest the motor, with a collar59 and looking in 60. The inner section-54 is provided at t e end thereof nearest the motor with an a erture 61 to receive the locking in 60, W en the section 55 is withdrawn wit in the section 54. When said section 55 is extended, the aperture'61 is engaged by the locking in .58. This structure is advantageous or the reason that when it is desired to lengthen the shaft 22, it is not necessary to withdraw the cleaning tool from its con tact with the material onwhich it is o erat; ing, since the locking pin 60 is locate close to the motor and is readily accessible to per mit the section 54 to be disengaged from the section 55 and be drawn outward, leaving the section 55 in position in the tube.

Various modifications in the details of the construction hereinbefore described will readily su gest themselves. For instance, while the shaft 22 and the end 17 of the shaft 15 have been referred to as square in cross section, they may be of any other noncircu-y lar form which will enable them to pro erly accomplish the functions ascribed to t iem.

Again, although the particular form of motor wheel described is one well ada ted for the purpose, other forms of water wlibel or other forms of motor may be employed, provided the motor is ortable in the sense of being readily movab which sense I have employedsaid term in the description and claims. The. Water is discharged at the inner end of the shaft 22 in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by pertures 62 in the collar 26, as indicated in ig. 2. p I thereforedo not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise details'of construction hereinbefore described and shown in' the accompanying drawlngs.

le by the operator, andin.

' and cleaning tool, and a universally flexible Havin thus fully described my invention, What I cIaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.2 An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a portable mechanical motor, a rigid shaft connecting the motor support for the motor, said support being secured so as to ermit the free rise and fall of said motor, w ereby all movements of the motor are unobstructed.

' 2. An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a portable mechanical motor of greater diameter than the tool and comprising a water wheel, its shaft and an inclosing casing provided with operating handles, a shaft rigidly connecting the cleaning tool and water wheelshaft, and means for supporting said motor so that 'it is free to move in a direction longitudinally of the tubes, said means comprisin a counterweight, a pulley and a flexib e connection between the counterweight and motor casing .passing over the pulley, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a portable motor of greater diameter than the tool, means for supporting said motor so that it is free to move in a direction longitudinally of the tube, said means comprising a counterweight, a pulley, and a flexible connection between the counterweight and motor case passing over the pulley, and a shaft rigidly connecting the motor and cleaning tool and provided between said motor and tool with bearing rin s adapted to fit the interior of the tube an moving longitudinally with the shaft, said shaft rotating in said rings,-substantially as described.

4. An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a motor of greater diameter' than the tool, and a shaft rigidly connecting the motor and cleaning tool, said shaft being composed of a plurality of telescoping sections, and means for locking the sections in extended or contracted positions, substantially as described.

5. An apparatus. for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a motor of reater diameter than'the tool, and a sha t rigidly connecting the motor and cleanin tool, said shaft being composed of a plura ity of telescoping sections, and means for locking the sections in extended or contracted positions, some of said sections being provided with bearing rings adapted to fit the interior of the tube and moving longitudinally with the stantially as described.

. 6. An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, a portable water motor of greater diameter than the tool, a hollow telescopic sectional shaft connecting the tool and water motor,' means for locking the shaft sections against longitudinal motion relatively. to each other, and means for conducting a portion of the Water supply through said shaft to the tool, substantially as described.

7 In an apparatus for. cleaning boiler tubes, the combination, with a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, of a portable water motor of greater diameter than the tool and comprising a water wheel with a hollow shaft and an inclosing casing in which said wheel and shaft are mounted, said casing being provided with an inlet nozzle and a main discharge for thewaste water outside of the tube, and a pi e connectin the inlet nozzle with one-en wheel shaft, and a hollow shaft rigidly connecting the cleanin tool with the other end of the water whee shaft, substantially as described.

8. In' an apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, the combination, with a cleaning, tool adapted to pass through the tube, and a motor, of a shaft connectingsaid tool and motor and comprising a-plurality of sections, certain of which are provided with a bearing forthe shaft within the tube, said bearing '85 of the hol ow water comprising a grooved collar on the shaft,

and a motor, of a shaft connecting the two and comprising aplurality of telescoping seetions provided with bearing rings, and means for locking the shaft sections against longitudinal motion relatively to each other, substantially as described. i I

10. In an apparatus of the character de-. scribed, the combinatiomwith a cleaning tool and a motor, of a shaft connectingthe two and provided with a grooved collar, and a bearing ring mounted in said. collar and provided with apertures for the passage of water',

said collar being free to rotate relatively to said ring, substantially as described.

, 11. In an apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes, the combination, with a cleaning tool adapted to pass through the tube, and a port'- able motor of greater diameter than the tool,

of a sectional shaft connecting said tool and motor and composed of telesco ing sections, non-circular in cross section, t l 1e inner sections provided with looking apertures and the outer sections provided with springlocking pins to engage said apertures, substantially as described.

12; -An apparatus for cleaning boiler tubes,

comprising a cleaning tool adapted to pass a through the tube, a portable motor of greater diameter than the cleaning tool, and a sectional shaft connecting said tool and motor, said shaft being composed of telescopin sections, the inner sectionsprovided with 00king apertures, the outer sections havin a co lar secured thereon and provided wit a circumferential groove, a bearing ring mounted in said groove, and a spring-10c g pin also mounted in said collar and adapted to HENRY F. WEINLAND.

Witnesses:

O. HAGAN, IRVINE MILLER.

rigage the apertures of the inner section. 

